Equifax $100M Credit Score Settlement - Claim by December 28, 2026

Quick Facts

• Settlement fund: $100 million (non-reversionary)
• Claim deadline: December 28, 2026
• Who qualifies: US individuals whose Equifax credit score was affected by the OMS coding error, March 17 - April 8, 2022
• What you need to file: Claim ID and PIN from the notice letter sent to eligible class members
• Estimated payout: $95 - $280 per person (varies by claim type)
• Final approval hearing: January 22, 2027
• Opt-out deadline: November 27, 2026

Equifax has agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging a computer coding error caused wrong credit scores to be sent to lenders for millions of Americans in spring 2022. If you applied for a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or any other credit product between March 17 and April 8, 2022, a lender may have received a credit score from Equifax that didn't match your actual score. The claim deadline is December 28, 2026.

What the OMS Coding Error Did

Between March 17 and April 8, 2022, Equifax was rolling out updates to its One Model Score (OMS) system - a platform used to calculate and transmit consumer credit scores to banks, auto lenders, mortgage companies, and other creditors. A bug in the system caused Equifax to send incorrect credit scores to lenders, meaning some applicants appeared to have better or worse credit than they actually had.

According to the lawsuit, the error affected a wide range of credit applications during this 22-day window. Because credit scores directly determine loan approvals, interest rates, and credit limits, some class members may have been denied credit they would have qualified for, received less favorable loan terms, or paid more in interest than they should have. Equifax has denied wrongdoing and disputed the extent of the error's impact.

The case is In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation, No. 1:22-cv-3072-LMM-CCB, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Who Is Eligible

The class covers individuals in the United States whose Equifax credit score or credit attribute - as reported to a lender or other third party in connection with a credit application - differed from the score they would have received without the OMS coding error. The affected window is strictly March 17 through April 8, 2022.

Because Equifax controls which scores were affected, the settlement administrator has identified potential class members from Equifax's records. If you're eligible, you should have received a notice letter in the mail with a unique Claim ID and PIN. Both items are required to file your claim online.

If you believe you were affected but didn't receive a notice, contact the settlement administrator directly through the official settlement website. You may still have options even without the notice materials.

How to File a Claim

1. Locate your notice letter, which contains your Claim ID and PIN. These were mailed to eligible class members identified from Equifax's records.
2. Visit the official settlement website: equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com.
3. Click "File Your Claim" and enter your Claim ID and PIN.
4. Complete the claim form with your personal information and details about any credit applications you made during the class period.
5. Submit before the December 28, 2026 deadline.

Filing is free. You don't need an attorney, and no third-party company should charge you to file a claim.

How Much Could You Get

The settlement fund is $100 million - and it's non-reversionary, meaning any money not claimed goes to approved cy pres recipients, not back to Equifax. After deducting attorneys fees and administration costs, the net fund will be divided among approved claimants.

Estimated payouts range from roughly $95 to $280 per person, depending on the type of credit application involved and the severity of the score discrepancy. The final amount per claimant will be determined by the settlement administrator after the claim deadline closes.

Important Deadlines

• Opt-out / objection deadline: November 27, 2026
• Claim deadline: December 28, 2026
• Final approval hearing: January 22, 2027 - Richard B. Russell Federal Building, Atlanta, GA

The settlement must receive final court approval before any payments go out. If the hearing proceeds without a successful challenge, payments could begin in the first half of 2027.

Sources: In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation, No. 1:22-cv-3072-LMM-CCB (N.D. Ga.); equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com; classaction.org; openclassactions.com